Vivid Sydney: So much more than just a lightshow!

Vivid Sydney is in town and no one in Sydney should miss it! Well it’s on for almost a whole month and attracts an ocean of tourists, so unless you live under a rock, chances are slim that a Sydneysider would not know about it.

We decided to go on a weekday after work thinking the crowd would be less and queues smaller, and as it turned out, it was quite a smart move indeed! Well, the place was definitely not deserted but at least we did not have to elbow people and jostle for space as we made our way from one installation to another!

Our plan to see Vivid Sydney consisted of two parts. We decided to head to the smaller harbour-side installations first, as we had reservations for a Vivid Sydney cruise later in the evening. There were many Vivid cruise deals available and we decided to go for a Vivid dinner cruise,as it would save us the time of having dinner later.

We headed straight to ‘Eyes on the Harbour’ as that was one of the most talked-about Vivid Sydney installations where a smart camera scans your face and then projects it onto a big screen above Darling Harbour. You can select filters like you do on your phone to decide your final look. As cheesy as it was, we all took great pleasure in seeing our faces light up Darling Harbour! Next on the itinerary was to head to the Royal Botanical Garden to see ‘Synthesis’, which portrayed how a tree sustains itself giving and taking from Earth. It looked like one of the trees in Avatar, glowing in many colours. 

‘Sydney’s Hidden Stories’ was also an interesting exhibit that primarily holds great appeal for children, but that didn’t stop us adults from dropping our jaws in amazement once in a while. It featured the exploits of a lizard leading you through a fairytale land of witches, gnomes and other creatures. ‘The Matter of Painting’ used the Museum of Contemporary Art building as its canvas to project images onto its walls. We couldn’t get tickets to go for ‘Drone 100’, a synchronised performance to music by hundred drones over Sydney Harbour. That would have been a visual treat, but sadly had to give it a miss.

By then, it was time for our Vivid Sydney special dinner cruise out on the harbour. A Vivid cruise on Sydney Harbour is a great way to get good views of the Opera House and see ‘Lighting the Sails’. The famous sails of the Opera House transformedinto an animated canvas of Australian indigenous art, the theme for this year. The Harbour Bridge, another icon of the city was outdone by the Opera House but still put up a decent show with the pylons changing colours of many hues. The food and drinks aboard the Vivid dinner cruise were perfect accompaniments for the evening, further sweetening the experience.

The final place to check in before calling it quits to our Vivid day was the ‘Memory frame’, a giant photo frame set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour. We got our pictures clicked, souvenirs to keep forever to remember this day by, in case our memory ever failed us. From harbour installations to the Vivid dinner cruise to the Opera House, Vivid Sydney 2016 has lived up to expectations. Can’t wait to see what the next edition has in store!

Vivid Sydney on The Rocks

When Vivid Sydney is in town the city lights up, welcoming all to its many installations scattered around the place. Spread over the city, Vivid Sydney encourages you to explore Sydney and discover its hidden treasures. Head to the Rocks to enjoy Vivid Sydney and embrace the rich history of the city. Have one on the rocks from Sydney’s oldest pubs for some liquid courage before exploring the cobbled streets of the Rocks, enjoying the history of the place while keeping an eye out for Vivid Sydney installations.

They wouldn’t be hard to miss especially at night with the installations lit up in their finest glory. With its close proximity to the harbour, you wouldn’t miss any of the action happening out there as well. Get one of the best views of the Opera House as it is illuminated in all its Vivid glory. Watch and marvel at the visual imagery as the sails of the Opera House transform to a kaleidoscope of colours and images, putting up a show on its own. Also catch the Harbour lights parade in which ships and vivid dinner cruise vessels partcipate, all lighted up in different shades making the harbour a bright and colourful place.

Explore the rich history of the Rocks while munching on some bikkies or sipping some refreshments. The birthplace of modern Sydney, this is where the great city began in 1788 with the arrival of the first convict ship. The beginnings were rough,but now the Rocks is one of Sydney’s prime locations and still retains an old-world charm making it a very appealing Vivid Lights Festival venue.

There is lots more to see around the place if you want a change from Vivid Sydney. Sydney Observatory is one of the sights to not miss and a night tour is a must. View the stars, planets and other celestial bodies through a telescope and marvel at these natural beauties. There are many Aboriginal art galleries to visit if the art bug bites you. And if old buildings and architecture are your thing, there are numerous preserved structures of yore still maintained as heritage sites that’s worth a visit. 

You also won’t go hungry while exploring the Rocks. There are lots of eateries around the Rocks serving delicious food from around the world. With a mix of different cultures, you get almost every major world cuisine here from Italian to Thai to Indian. Souvenir and bargain hunters will also find the place a happy hunting ground as you can spot bargains from traditional Aboriginal art to fine Australian opals.

So head to the Rocks this Vivid Sydney as you wouldn’t miss out on anything. And more importantly have a good time with friends and family as there are activities galore to suit people with diverse interests. After a Vivid Sydney Cruise, this might be the next best place for a get-together withfriends and family to experience this brilliant light festival and create lasting memories!